Ashley "Smoke" Pierre.
IRVINGTON – Ashley “Smoke” Pierre has fond memories of playing youth football for the Golden Knights in Irvington.
Pierre developed into a Division 1 collegiate player before becoming a football coach at several area high schools.
After joining the Irvington High School football coaching staff as the defensive coordinator this past season last fall, Pierre is looking forward to leading the program as its head coach after being appointed to the position by the Irvington Board of Education earlier this month. It is Pierre’s first head coaching position.
“It feels good,” said Pierre about being the new Blue Knights head coach. “It’s a great feeling to come back home and give to the community that gave me what I have and kind of helped me gain the things I have accomplished in my 30 years of living. It feels great to come back home, knowing that I am with an athletic director (Yvonne Sheard) as new as me and with an administration that is supportive.”
Sheard began as the IHS athletic director in September.
Pierre replaces Pete Pascarella, who stepped down after six seasons due to personal reasons. Pascarella was an assistant coach for the Blue Knights for the previous eight seasons under Darnell Grant.
After finishing eighth grade, Pierre attended now-defunct Bayley-Ellard High School in Madison and was a standout linebacker.
Following his graduation in 2004, Pierre played one season of JUCO football at Alfred State College in New York. He continued his career at the University of Rhode Island where he earned his bachelor’s degree.
Pierre then started his coaching career. He served as an assistant coach at Barringer for three seasons, Newark West Side for one season and Columbia High for another season before coming to IHS last season.
When he joined the Blue Knights staff, Pierre was able to get Irvington players to transfer from parochial schools, including current junior standout wide receiver Jasiah Provillon and current senior linebacker Nims Salaam, who both came from Queen of Peace High School in North Arlington.
“The biggest objective was to gain some kids and bring some kids back home,” Pierre said. “I was able to bring some kids back home and get some young guys so that they could get some experience and keep that group with me.”
The Blue Knights last season started 0-5 before winning their next three games. The team lost their final two games to finish 3-7, missing the state sectional playoffs for the first time since 2011.
With Provillon as a key offensive playmaker and about nine returning defensive players, the Blue Knights hope to get back to the playoffs with a smash-mouth, never-quit approach that Pierre is instilling.
“We’re going to play aggressive, tough football, on both sides of the ball, and on special teams,” Pierre said. “We’re going to play like it’s the last play we have. That’s the kind of program we’re going to build up.”
The Blue Knights are working hard this spring in the weight room. Some are staying active by participating in baseball and track and field team, said Pierre, a clinical supervisor at an outpatient program.
Pierre has assembled a coaching staff with Division 1 collegiate playing experience, looking to create a collegiate-like program.
“We’re going to treat (the program) like a college atmosphere; we’re going to treat this like a university,” Pierre said.
The goal is clear: to make the Blue Knights a perennial Super Essex Conference and state title contender.
“We’re getting after it and we’re going to continue to build,” Pierre said.
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